ter the number of circuits, they’re poised to run
immediately—in fact, they power on within about 10
seconds of a power outage—and can run nonstop for
days on end. These hefty units sit outside the home
and run on the home’s natural gas or liquid propane
fuel source. The system is always on standby and
uses smart technology to self-monitor and enable
remote status checks throughout the year.

“Because standbys are connected directly to ahome’s electrical system, they need to be installed bya licensed electrical contractor to ensure they arehooked up according to code,” Patrick stresses.“They also require a plumber to correctly attachnatural gas or propane lines,” notes Rick Loomis,national account manager for Honeywell home gen-erators. “We recommend that, prior to selecting agenerator, members consult with an electrician todetermine what requirements they have in order toensure they purchase the correct one.”Due to installation costs, these units are under-standably more expensive than a portable generator;however, the long-term benefit can be tremendous.If correctly installed, they provide a safe and consis-tent source of power at a moment’s notice, and whenproperly maintained according to manufacturerinstructions will last for many years.

How smart is that!

A smart transfer switch lets you power the
entire home at once or choose which circuits you
want powered in order of priority. Acting as the
interface between the generator and the home’s
electrical system, this switch allows you to dictate
which circuits you want running at one time.

Loomis explains, “Smart switches manage the
generator’s capacity and allow the system to recognize if the home’s power demands risk overloading
the generator. Then it can switch off the most power-hungry appliances until generator capacity returns.”

Every standby generator is paired with a transfer
switch to correspond with the amperage coming into
the home. Costco home standby units include the
switch in their price; not all systems do.

“Portable generators need to be placed outdoors for safety, but even they can have a transfer
switch connected as an additional convenience feature,” Welzbacher tells me. “Switches can be placed
inside the house next to a power panel in the garage,
and you can prioritize the power circuits that you
want to keep going.”

Keeping up with technology

“We are constantly assessing new generator
technology options, and there are a couple of great
new choices available for both portables and standbys,” says Patrick.

“Mobile Link, a new cellular remote monitoringsystem for standby units, is available for Honeywellunits,” Loomis explains. “This service lets you checkon a generator’s status or even receive customizednotifications, all using a computer, tablet or smart-phone, and as a wireless monitoring solution it stayson even after the power goes out.”Dual fuel is another generator option. “Brand-new to the market this year, it’s the newest technologyin portable generators,” Welzbacher reveals. “TheChampion 7-kilowatt dual-fuel portable generatorefficiently combines the options of using either gas orpropane into one unit.”This generator supports a gas tank as well as theability to hook up a propane tank, and a safety alter-nating switch allows users to choose which tank touse at a given time. Welzbacher notes, “This can behighly useful in the event that gas is difficult toobtain during an emergency, or if propane is acheaper alternative.”Solar-powered generators are becoming a pop-ular option, and Costco partners with Goal Zero, aglobal leader in solar power, to offer a small portablegenerator called Yeti. It doesn’t use fuel, so it can beset up inside the home to quietly provide 2 kilowattsof power and is able to keep functioning while thesolar panels are recharging. Solar options are avail-able at Costco.com.

Costco also carries a smaller 2-kilowatt inverter
generator manufactured by Smarter Tools, which is
ideal for outdoor use in camping, hunting, fishing
or tailgating parties.

Only the best

Costco selects generator suppliers based on top
quality and performance, and each supplier has to
meet U.S. government-regulated Environmental
Protection Agency and California Air Resource
Board emissions standards.

Patrick says, “We look for companies that have
a strong history in the industry and a proven reputation for quality and service to ensure that they will
be around in the future if members need assistance.
Combined with Costco’s reputation for value and
service, members have a stellar—dare I say, ‘
powerful’?—choice for any generator needs.” C

LIKE POWER OUTAGES, intermittent power surges and spikes can
cause grief because they affect
important electronic devices.

Chris Day, Costco computer buyer,says, “Even when using a genera-tor, it can take from seconds tominutes to power up a home,and in that switchover time vitalcomputer data can be lost orInternet service interrupted.”He notes, “Battery backupsare the first line of defense forproviding an uninterruptiblepower-supply backup and surgeprotection throughout the year.“The CyberPower batterybackup carried by Costco offersimmediate power and is also agreat bridge to a home generator.”It has multiple connection portsto power up various devices andwhen connected to computers,cable modems and Internet routersprovides the opportunity to savefiles and shut down a computer ina power emergency. Even DVRs canbe plugged in to ensure that thosetreasured TV shows are not lost.

If you are on the go and need
a quick charge for your device,
Costco also carries small backup
devices, varying from lipstick size
to cellphone size, that are ideal
for an immediate short-term
power backup.—SN

EVERYONE I SPOKE with
stressed that the No. 1 rule in
the safe operation of portable
generators is to never, ever
operate a generator indoors,
even in the garage with the
door open. The engines can produce dangerous levels of carbon
monoxide, which can leak into
the house and prove fatal.

The experts noted that portable units should be placed at
least 10 to 15 feet away from the
home or other structures. Unless
you are using a manual transfer
switch, extension cords need to
be run into the house to hook up
appliances, so it’s important to
ensure they are long enough to
keep the generator away from
the house. Don’t be tempted to
use short cords, as it may jeopardize your family’s safety.

Storing portable generators
correctly is also important to
ensure they are ready for the
next emergency situation. “Store
the unit indoors in a dry environment, but first make sure there
is no residual gas in the carburetor, as ethanol can gum it up,”
Todd Welzbacher of Champion
Power Equipment explains.

“If you don’t want to dispose of leftover gas in the gas
tank, follow the manual’s
instructions for draining the carburetor and then add a fuel stabilizer such as Sta-Bil to the gas
tank to keep it stable for up to
six months.”—SN